The Perfect Deer Rifle

[onelastshot]

The criteria that make up the perfect deer rifle are different for all of us. I've got a dozen different rifles that qualify as deer rifles but only one meets my personal criteria that puts it ahead of all the others as the perfect set up.

For me, it's a Ruger No. One, chambered in 7x57 and topped off with a Zeiss 2-10x42 scope. I love the rifle. It's overall length and fit is perfect for me. Light enough to carry all day but heavy enough that the recoil is comfortable to the point of being a non-issue. The Zeiss scope has excellent clarity and superior light gathering ability to provide a clear picture the last 10-15 minutes of the day.

From my perspective, the 7x57 cartridge is one of the best cartridges available for deer. The vast majority of deer cartridges fall between 6mm up to and including 30 caliber cartridges. The 7x57 falls right in the middle of this range. I hand load a 140 grain Berger VLD that obtains 2800fps. The result is a flat shooting cartridge that shoots sub MOA groups that's deadly out past 300 yards with terrific penetration and expansion. All in all, the rifle gives me a sense of comfort and confidence in its ability to make one shot kills without compromise.

What's your perfect deer rifle and why?

 

[JRS]

250 Ackley, built on a Borden action, Brux barrel, Borden tuned Jewell trigger, Seekins DBM, Shehane African Obeche stock and Leupold VX-7 1.5-6 scope mounted in Talley-Borden rings. Why the 25 caliber? Because it just plain works

 

[hogpatrol]

The perfect deer rifle is one you are proficient with and confident in its killing ability for the conditions you will encounter.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I don't own a perfect deer rifle, I own rifles, they all kill deer.

 

[OKyote73]

^^^^^^^^^^^^This is IT!

 

[FryeGuy]

For me it's a Sako finnlight, in my favorite caliber, 6.5x55. Topped off with a zeiss 3.5-10. I have the same scope on my muzzleloader. My next favorite will be a finnlight, but in a short action, 260 or 308. The 6.5 did great for me last year. Just love it. Wanted one for years, finally sucked it up and bought one. Couldn't be happier!! Well I guess I could change the scope to a Swarovski 3.5-10, with the German #4, that would be pretty cool too

 

[perry42]

What ever works for you.

perry42

 

[people]

It depends on how I will hunt. Close it will be a 5.45x39. Long it will be a 338lm.

 

[Sniper338]

Killing deer with a rifle gets boring. All my rifles will kill deer. I like to change it up every deer... 308, 6BR, 260, 22-250AI, bowtech destroyer 350 bow, handgun, AR15, XP-100, revolver, AK47, shmidt and rubin, shotgun... i always change it up and do something different. Tree stand, deer blind, longer range set up, stalking..

One gun is just a bore... i got domething for every situation, and what i feel like for the weekend..

 

[TheOtherZilla]

7 Ultra MAG. Cause when ya see the Big-un you can reach out there...

 

[snert]

Trapdoor

 

[1K6BRA]

My personal favorite is a pre-64 model 70 in 250-3000 savage topped with a straight six power Leupold scope. The reasons are it reminds me of days gone by,it still rolls deer like a shotgun rolls rabbits and not every Tom,Dick and Harry has one.

 

[moorepower]

I don't own one but a .257 Bob imp would be hard to beat in a Kimber Montana, "if" it was one of the accurate Kimber's. I have used a .243, .300 Savage, 7.5 Swiss K31, 7SAUM and 7Rem mag. They all die. Where I hunted had runs 50,200 and 400 yards away, so I use the 7SAUM there and just love the gun, Rem model 7 laminate. If my shots were all 200 and under I would use the Rem 760 in .300 Savage.

 

[Brinky]

The criteria that make up the perfect deer rifle are different for all of us. I've got a dozen different rifles that qualify as deer rifles but only one meets my personal criteria that puts it ahead of all the others as the perfect set up.

For me, it's a Ruger No. One, chambered in 7x57 and topped off with a Zeiss 2-10x42 scope. I love the rifle. It's overall length and fit is perfect for me. Light enough to carry all day but heavy enough that the recoil is comfortable to the point of being a non-issue. The Zeiss scope has excellent clarity and superior light gathering ability to provide a clear picture the last 10-15 minutes of the day.

From my perspective, the 7x57 cartridge is one of the best cartridges available for deer. The vast majority of deer cartridges fall between 6mm up to and including 30 caliber cartridges. The 7x57 falls right in the middle of this range. I hand load a 140 grain Berger VLD that obtains 2800fps. The result is a flat shooting cartridge that shoots sub MOA groups that's deadly out past 300 yards with terrific penetration and expansion. All in all, the rifle gives me a sense of comfort and confidence in its ability to make one shot kills without compromise.

What's your perfect deer rifle and why?

What variant of the No 1 is this in? Light Sporter or RSI?

 

[RaySendero]

I've killed deer with Arisaka Type 99, British No.4 MK1*, Brno Vz-24, Chinese SKS, Chilean M95, Swiss K-31, Rem M700, Rem M700 LTR, Win Pre-War M70, Win Pre-64 M70 Carbine and Yugo M48a. Other than the K-31, The old military rifles were sporterized or customized for a specific hunting purpose - Not necessarily for deer.

When I hunt away from home I always take 2 rifles. Thinking back over the years, that custom 1939 M70 in 270 WCF most of the time was in my 2 rifle case.

 

[Kevin Taylor]

The deer rifle I like best is one I put together from parts laying around. I was unpacking a box from the shop that had not been touched for 3 moves. Found a long Remington left hand 700 action I had forgotten about.
Wondering what I could do with it I started a pile of pieces. A brown precision fiberglass stock from a old project, 270 Win featherweight barrel, Jewel hunter trigger. Kwik klip bottom metal.
Even found a redfield wide view 3x9 for it.
Light, hits where I think it is pointed.

 

[JLT]

I agree with the general sentiment - just about any rifle will kill a deer.

That said, there are two 'go-to' deer rifles in my pile - a Savage 11 FCNS, bone stock in 7mm-08 and a TC Encore (trigger job, of course) in .25-'06. Either rifle delivers way better than minute-of-whitetail and they are easy to carry. The Savage shoots the 139 gr. Hornady SPBTs very well and this bullet works really well on medium game. The .25-'06 kills like a lightning strike with the 120 gr. Speer SPBTs.

I've taken deer with the .308, 300 WSM and 6.5 Grendel but the Savage and the Encore are then ones that get taken into the woods way more often than not.

 

[onelastshot]

What variant of the No 1 is this in? Light Sporter or RSI?

Mine is the light sporter model.

 

[284winner]

Winchester model 100 fits the bill nicely in the thick Michigan deer woods of Upper Northern Michigan. Either in 308 or 284. I prefer the 180gr in 308 and 150gr in 284. Quick follow-up shots and very accurate for an auto loader. Minute of white-tail deer heart accuracy at 100 yards anyway. Great walking guns as well.

 

[snert]

88 Winchester